10 College Football QBs with Most to Prove in 2016 Season
College football quarterbacks typically garner the most national attention at any given program, and with that recognition comes high expectations.
However, even at schools such as LSU where a different player dominates the headlines, the man under center often provides the difference between a successful season and a disappointing one.
Each of the following gunslingers fits at least one of these categories: He lost his No. 1 target (or multiple key contributors), leads a nationally hyped 2016 squad, underperformed last year or must assemble a productive season to bolster his draft prospects.
The order is loosely based on national championship contenders, starting with a Group of Five player and working toward a quarterback at a powerhouse program.
Taylor Lamb, Appalachian State
1 of 10
Appalachian State's transition from the Football Championship Subdivision has gone swimmingly. After debuting at 8-5, the Mountaineers finished 11-2 with a bowl victory last year.
Their offense relies on a deep running attack led by Marcus Cox. However, the top two receivers have departed, so Taylor Lamb needs to progress from distributor to playmaker.
A starter since his freshman season, Lamb has thrown 48 touchdown to 18 interceptions. He's more safe with the football than anything—which is useful but doesn't correlate to many explosive gains.
Tennessee and Miami are on the slate for 2016. Appalachian State could make national noise, but it depends on Lamb.
Tommy Armstrong Jr., Nebraska
2 of 10
Nebraska defined bad luck and "close but not quite" in 2015. The team started 3-5, losing by a combined total of 13 points.
Thirteen!
But the frustrating year also provides reason for optimism next season. Dual-threat quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. headlines a unit that returns Jordan Westerkamp and Terrell Newby.
Even if the Huskers take care of winning closer games against lesser foes, their road games include Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa. Nebraska's road to Indianapolis for a Big Ten championship simply doesn't have many critical stops in Lincoln.
Brad Kaaya, Miami
3 of 10
Coaching held back Brad Kaaya, but Mark Richt is an upgrade over James Coley. The problem for Kaaya, however, is a couple of Miami's best receivers exhausted their eligibility.
Rashawn Scott and Herb Waters departed, leaving an inconsistent yet talented Stacy Coley with David Njoku. But will Braxton Berrios or Lawrence Cager actually demand a starting spot?
Kaaya carries first-round NFL draft potential, but he's not a finished product. For example, though the gunslinger threw just five interceptions last year, three were in the red zone.
Only once have the Hurricanes even earned a share of the Coastal Division crown. Kaaya must remove bad mistakes to help Miami compete in the ACC—and solidify his draft status.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee
4 of 10
Save for a remotely thin receiving corps, Tennessee has every piece necessary for 2016. It was the same story last season, and the Vols were this close to contending nationally.
Tennessee lost to Oklahoma 31-24 9 (in overtime), Florida 28-27, Arkansas 24-20 and Alabama 19-14.
In three of the four contests, the Volunteers had a fourth-quarter lead. They failed to score in the final frame to edge Arkansas.
Joshua Dobbs must prove he's capable of carrying the offense when it's needed most. Tennessee's roster is built for an SEC or even national run, but Dobbs is the difference between close wins and losses.
Dakota Prukop, Oregon
5 of 10Last year Oregon went undefeated when Vernon Adams finished a game. The problem was he only made it through eight of 13.
Can fellow FCS transfer Dakota Prukop achieve similar success for all—not just a part—of 2016?
Granted, he must hold off redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen to officially claim the starting role. Should that happen, Prukop will occupy a high-pressure situation because of the program's recent success at quarterback. That's not just limited to Marcus Mariota.
In two seasons as Montana State's starter, Prukop amassed 5,584 passing yards and 46 touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions, rushing for 1,743 and 24 more scores.
He must translate that production to an Oregon team that is looking to rebound after a tough 2015.
C.J. Beathard, Iowa
6 of 10
One major storyline for 2016 is Iowa's drive to show 2015 wasn't an aberration. C.J. Beathard leads the charge.
The Hawkeyes finished 12-0 and nearly earned the Big Ten title. Beathard stayed out of trouble, completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions while running for six scores.
But a hip injury kept Beathard from running often. He'll need that element to help atone for the departures of Tevaun Smith, Jordan Canzeri, Henry Krieger Coble and a couple of offensive linemen.
Iowa has a relatively friendly schedule again, with the exception of FCS dynasty North Dakota State and FBS power Michigan, but neither game truly affects a potential West Division title. If Beathard and the Hawkeyes win every other game, they'll return to Indy.
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
7 of 10
Based on Odds Shark championship odds, Oklahoma and Baylor are heavy favorites in the Big 12. Oklahoma State is a leading candidate to derail those hopes.
But that pressure lies on Mason Rudolph.
The Pokes lost Emmanuel Ogbah and Jimmy Bean—their two best disruptors—on a defense that allowed 30.5 points per game. Yes, shootouts are a part of the Big 12, but that means a team must consistently out-offense its competition.
Rudolph had just 49 red-zone touches compared to J.W. Walsh's 60. Rudolph also avoided mistakes, but Walsh accounted for 24 scores inside the 20-yard line. That's not a small contribution.
Oklahoma State opens Big 12 action on the road against Baylor (Sept. 24) and closes at Oklahoma (Dec. 3). Even TCU (Nov. 19) is away from Stillwater. Rudolph must be efficient in an increased role while regularly traveling for the team's showdowns.
Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
8 of 10
Likely the top senior draft prospect, Chad Kelly closed the 2015 season on an absolute tear. After throwing 12 interceptions through nine games, he racked up 17 total touchdowns compared to just one pick during the last four outings.
"If you look at his last few games, he may be even able to exceed (last year)," head coach Hugh Freeze said, per Parrish Alford of the Daily Journal. "Early on he had some turnovers. Hopefully we'll get those cut down."
The team will miss Laquon Treadwell, but the receiving corps isn't a huge concern. While the offensive line has a fair bit of experience, losing all five starters could be a problem, though.
Ole Miss begins the 2016 season against Florida State in Orlando and plays Wofford, Alabama and Georgia. Kelly doesn't have time to break in new linemen and receivers. He needs to excel immediately.
Otherwise, the Rebels will be eliminated from the College Football Playoff discussion in September.
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
9 of 10
Baker Mayfield guided Oklahoma to the CFP last season. He'll attempt to repeat the feat without standout receiver Sterling Shepard.
The Sooners don't lack options in Dede Westbrook, Mark Andrews, Joe Mixon and Geno Lewis. The receiving corps should hold its own, especially if Jarvis Baxter and Michiah Quick contribute.
But nobody is going to replace Shepard.
Although Mayfield is a perfect fit in Lincoln Riley's quarterback-friendly scheme, Shepard separated from defenders arguably better than anyone in the country. He nearly doubled Westbrook's numbers.
Oklahoma's formidable defense will be a great asset in the point-happy Big 12. But for the Sooners to potentially win a playoff semifinal, Mayfield needs to be even more of a playmaker than he was last year.
Brandon Harris, LSU
10 of 10
Leonard Fournette, Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural are each receiving NFL buzz. Offensive lineman Ethan Pocic is a top prospect. LSU simply needs Brandon Harris to guide the offense.
Except on Nov. 5.
Alabama's defensive line shut down Fournette in 2015, limiting him to 31 yards on 19 carries. But Harris was a non-factor, too. He finished 6-of-19 for 128 yards.
There's no doubt that distributing effectively against a Crimson Tide defense riddled with NFL-caliber talent is difficult. However, the Tigers won't reach the CFP without Harris playing the best game of his career when Alabama invades Baton Rouge.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
